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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Jackarmy1 on Sunday 01 March 26 15:51 GMT (UK)

Title: James Watson 46639
Post by: Jackarmy1 on Sunday 01 March 26 15:51 GMT (UK)
Hi, looking to find out any details I can on the above gentleman, before I shortly go visit his grave in Fins New British Cemetery. He was awarded the MM and was a driver in the RFA and/or Royal Horse Artillery. Looks like he was initially buried by the Germans before being reinterned into Fins. Any additional info greatly received- richard
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 01 March 26 16:12 GMT (UK)
He left a widow:  Jane, 74 Lightburn Road, Cambuslang, Glasgow, and children Mary (1910) and Agnes (1916)

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/61588/records/2592867
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: Jackarmy1 on Sunday 01 March 26 18:17 GMT (UK)
Thank you
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: AllanUK on Monday 02 March 26 10:51 GMT (UK)
His CWGC entry shows that he served with 'D' Battery, 94th Brigade, RFA
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: softly softly on Monday 02 March 26 13:40 GMT (UK)
Birth of Mary and Agnes

WATSON
AGNES MCBRIDE
mmn MARKIE
F
1914
627 / 313
Cambuslang


WATSON
MARY
mmn MARKIE
F
1910
627 / 653
Cambuslang

---------
Parents marriage

WATSON
JAMES
MARKIE
JANE
1910
627 / 47
Cambuslang

James was aged 23, his parents James Watson(steelworker) and Agnes nee' McBride(married 1866)
Jane was aged 23 her parents Francis Markie and Mary Eadie (married 1879)

James birth

WATSON
JAMES
mmn MCBRIDE
M
1886
586 / 57
Dalmellington


SS
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: hanes teulu on Monday 02 March 26 13:43 GMT (UK)
A medal record on FindMyPast (1914-15 Star) includes
Disembarkation Date - 9 Sep 1915
Theatre of War - 1
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: Jackarmy1 on Monday 02 March 26 15:15 GMT (UK)
Thanks all, next step to dig out the regiment war diary and see if there is any indication of why he was awarded the MM.
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: AllanUK on Monday 02 March 26 17:45 GMT (UK)
Quote from: Jackarmy1 on Monday 02 March 26 15:15 GMT (UK)
Thanks all, next step to dig out the regiment war diary and see if there is any indication of why he was awarded the MM.

Good luck with the war diaries ... I've already had a quick look for a three month period before his announcement in the London Gazette (21/10/1918) but haven't seen anything.

(image courtesy of Find My Past)
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: Jackarmy1 on Monday 02 March 26 18:21 GMT (UK)
Ah, so he was gazetted a month after his death, that's quite sad but probably far from unusual in those dark times.
Thanks again for info
Title: Re: James Watson 46639
Post by: AllanUK on Tuesday 03 March 26 09:53 GMT (UK)
As you say, sad but probably far from unusual -- I have seen this many times over the years that I have been researching WW1 soldiers.